The Eden Alternative
We have a long-term care facility where I live that is a member of the Eden Alternative. When I went for a tour, I was greeted by a laid back golden retriever, who came over to check me out. When I scratched his belly, he walked slowly back to the ring of wheelchairs and continued to have love poured all over him by 4 residents. There were little kids everywhere, playing and laughing, drawing pictures and showing them to residents who smiled. There were plants and gardens everywhere, and the staff (who I thought were supposed to be providing nursing care) were tending a vegetable garden during their break.
It was incredible, to see birds and dogs and cats and pre-school children coexisting with long-term care patients. I want to end up in a place like that.
It takes work and dedication and a total change in attitudes by LTC staff, who are used to the way things are now.
I assure you, snakes are not welcome, but if they did find their way into the facility, they would probably just chill out with the rest of the critters.
When people stop caring and start doing things for the paycheck, the snakes show up. And I am not talking about the literal kind.
This is where the heart of Communism still holds merit: If people did what they loved, in this case caring for the elderly, then the entire society benefits.